Bisping Criticizes UFC 305 Scorecard
Michael Bisping criticized the scoring at UFC 305 after judge Howie Booth gave Tai Tuivasa a 30–27 score against Jairzinho Rozenstruik. The other two judges scored the heavyweight bout for Rozenstruik, who won by split decision. Booth was then removed from his scheduled assignment on the card’s co-main event, but the commission later said he remained a registered official.
One scorecard stood apart
Rozenstruik and Tuivasa met on the UFC 305 main card at RAC Arena in Perth on Aug. 17, 2024. After three rounds, the judges’ cards were 29–28 Rozenstruik, 30–27 Tuivasa and 30–27 Rozenstruik. The split decision went to Rozenstruik. Booth’s score was the only card for Tuivasa and drew immediate criticism from viewers and fighters.
The scoring was controversial, but it did not change the official result: Rozenstruik won. A judge scores each round independently under the 10-point must system, and different views can produce split decisions. In this case, the margin between Booth’s card and the other two drew particular attention.
Bisping reacted during a watchalong
Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping was watching the event on a YouTube stream with his son. TalkSPORT reported that Bisping called the 30–27 card “horrendous” and argued that poor judging can affect fighters’ careers, title opportunities and earnings. He also said judges who submit such scores should be fired. Those were Bisping’s views; they were not a commission finding about Booth’s intent or competence.
Booth was reassigned for the night
Booth had been scheduled to judge the flyweight co-main event between Kai Kara-France and Steve Erceg. After the heavyweight fight, he was replaced by Ben Cartlidge. UFC executive David Shaw said the Western Australian Combat Sports Commission was responsible for the change. The commission’s chairman later told MMA Fighting that officials consulted the head official and followed due process. He added that Booth remained a registered official with the commission.
The assignment change was a same-night response to a scorecard under scrutiny, not an announced permanent firing or ban. The episode renewed calls for transparency and consistent judging standards while leaving the bout’s result intact.
Sources
- TalkSPORT: Bisping reacts during a UFC 305 watchalong
- MMA Fighting: Booth removed from the co-main event assignment
- MMA Fighting: commission statement says Booth remained registered
- UFC: official UFC 305 scorecards
